Fouad Ajami: The Resilience of American Power

Reader Comments
Back to article

The talk about the US being a benign power or otherwise is redundant. Dominant countries behave according to what they see as their national interests, not necessarily out of the goodness of their hearts. Believing that would be naive. Granted that Communist Russia and Nazi Germany were very nasty, but the US is no more benign than other powerful Western democracies had been in their time. The different historical context accounts for any perceived differences between US dominance and that of, let's say, the UK or France. Nuclear weapons, a more integrated world economy, the spread of the mass media, the impact of world opinion, and the independence of many ex-colonies have all acted as a brake on US expansionism. If you look for moral goodness in the international behaviour of countries, you will be sorely disappointed.

Husam Dughman 3:02PM November 07, 2008

above: Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both BEFORE any American hegemony, which partly resulted from them.
Secondly I resent the article's use of the phrase "imperial republic." He is confusing an empire, which we do not have, with imperium, (leadership) which we do.

John D. Froelich of PA 10:31AM November 02, 2008

Just a note, I suspect that Leyla was referring to the American occupation of the Philippines preceding WWII and the post WWII occupation.
Her reference to Hiroshima and Nagasaki are more clearly troubling. It is probable that a prolonged siege of Japan or an invasion would have been more costly in lives, Japanese and American, than the atomic blasts. I know that's a hard thing to say, however I think an examination of the facts will validate that position.
America has often been a clumsy giant... Generally well meaning, but sometimes wrong headed, but not wrong hearted.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 10:06PM October 31, 2008

Leyla: You mean the Japanese occupation of the Phillipines that led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Events, my friend, events. If you get the cause and effect wrong when making a historical analogy, you look a fool and lose the argument. Sorry.

Carlos 1:21PM October 31, 2008

(opportunism punishes the opportunist, it kills their talents and skills, and they do not even notice)

W Dayoub of 7:48PM October 30, 2008

America is the ONLY nation with a global reach in terms of power projection. NO OTHER COUNTRY can equal the ammount of supplies and forces we can bring to bear around the globe. That is our strength in the world.

Lawrence of MD 3:52PM October 30, 2008

Quote :American hegemony has been benign
Really ? hiroshima and nagasaki tragedies certainly did not appear benign nor the occupation of the Phillipines .

Leyla 2:37PM October 30, 2008

Certainly American hegemony has been beneficial to the majority of the globe. However, it is also important that we begin to recognize that we are entering an era, not of hegemony, but of a first among equals.
The Chinese, whether they like it or not, are a global power. Their share of the global demand curve absolutely ensures that. The same can be said of India. Now, while India lacks the kind of centralized power to maneuver on the world stage, the Chinese do not. They must reevaluate their role in the world in order to move beyond the cultural bias towards the 'humble' which creates unintended conflicts both for their own interests, and those of the West.
America, for its part, needs to do something similar. We must understand that power projection is not the end all be all of securing a better future. At times we must concede direct influence in order to beget both stability, and reduce our own waste in the pursuit of an unattainable hegemony.

Frank77 of 1:32PM October 30, 2008

America's strength has always included its adopted sons and daughters. Thank you sir, for restoring a bit of my hope in these troubled times and I will try to read more of your work as time moves on.

Eric of MD 10:55AM October 30, 2008